Thames Valley: Yattendon Group's sales down as trading challenges take hold

Yattendon Group, the private company owned by the Iliffe family, has seen turnover reduce by nearly 13% - blaming "challenging trading conditions". 

Eight months ago, the Group sold the Iliffe News & Media business to Local World, a newly formed media organisation that combined the Iliffe titles with those of Northcliffe Media.

The Group operates in a range of sectors including media, agriculture, property and marine leisure. It operates a portfolio of 13 marinas across the South East, under the MDL brand.

The Group also owns the 9,000-acre Yattendon Estate in Berkshire, where it is one of largest private producers of Christmas trees in the UK.

Yattendon reported revenue for the year ending January 7, 2013 was £89.7m, down 12.8% on the previous year. The annual report said: "Challenging trading conditions arising from continued economic uncertainty in the UK and Europe have persisted throughout the period."